Golf practice device



Jan. 26, 1960 E. G. oBRlEN COLE PRACTICE DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvENToR l EDWARD G. OBRIEN BYMZQ/ ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1960 E. G. o'BRlEN COLE PRACTICE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1958 wil/m- @l ta I INVENTOR EDWARD G. OB/Z/EN ATTORNEYS Unite States My invention relates to a. demountable golf practice device capable of being set up in gymnasiums, drive- Ways, basements, lawns and golf courses. More specically my invention relates to' a golf practice device comprising a plurality of U-shaped vertical frame members which are interconnected in spaced horizontal relationship by spacing elements; a net is attached to the resultant frame by tie means. The net is suspended from the top members inside the side bars orlegs of the U- shaped frame members so that no dangerous impact of a golf ball with metal is possible.

The elements which make up the frame are interconnected by a connector means which has horizontal rods; atop bar is fixedly connected to one horizontal rod and the spacing element is releasably connected to another. A depending rod of the connector means telescopically receives a side bar or leg for movement within a predetermined distance to allow collapsing thereof to a position adjacent the top bar.

Various other objects and meritorious features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the golf practice device;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a U-shaped frame member in collapsed condition;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the intermediate connector means with various parts shown in connected and disconnected condition for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view partly in section of a connector means and associated parts in erected condition;

Fig. 5 is a side view in cross section showing a rubber disc or suction cup at the bottom of a side bar; and

Fig. 6 is a side view of a stake for use on lawns.

Referring now to Fig. l it will be seen that my invention includes a frame which comprises three inverted U-shaped vertical frame members 14, 15 and 16 which extend in a horizontal spaced relationship. Spacing elements or pipes 17 interconnect the frame members.

Each U-shaped frame member includes side bars 18 and 19 and a top bar 20, these bars being interconnected by connector means 21.

A net 22, having side Walls 23 and 24, top wall 25, i

and end wall 26, is suspended from the top portion of the frame and connected to the side bars 18 and 19 by tie means 27. The net 22 is of either sixteen or eighteen thread size with a 11/2 inch diamond or 3%; inch square mesh. This netting is bound on all sides with size nine thread sisal or manila rope. All sections are joined to facilitate installation by the user. The net is fastened by tie means 27 which are tie strings which hold the net to the frame in a loose fashion, but tight enough to eliminate or minimize sag. In this fashion the net at all times contains a driven golf ball without ricocheting.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 it will be seen that atent G Mice each U-shaped frame member has a pair of side bars 18 and 19 which are connected by the connector means 21 to the top bar 20. The connector means shown enlarged in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a base spherical portion 2S having aligned horizontal rods 29A and 30 which extend longitudinally along the length of the golf practice device. These aligned horizontal rods 29 and 30 have bayonet pins 31 and 32 respectively which are received within the bayonet slots 33 and 34 respectively in the ends of the spacing pipes 17 to hold the unit in rigid condition. Preferably, the aligned rods 29 and 30 are closely fitted within the open pipe ends of ,the spacing elements 17.

Extending transversely of the spherical portion 28 is a transverse horizontal rod 35 whichis received Within the top bar 20 of the frame member 14. Locking pin 36 holds the top bar 2li in rigid engagement with the connector means 21.

Depending from the sphere is a depending rod 37 and is similarly telescopically received within the side bar 18. The link 38 is pivoted to the depending rod by pin 39 which extends between the two ears 40, 40 formed in the end of the depending rod 37. The link 38, which pivots on a horizontal axis which extends longitudinally of the golf practice device, has a lug 41 extending therefrom which is slidably received in a slot 42 which eX- tends longitudinally of the side bar 18 at the upper end thereof, the upper end 43 of the slot providing a stop which is engaged by the lug 41 when the side leg 18 is withdrawn out of housing engagement with the depending rod 37. This withdrawal enables the link 38 and side leg or bar 18 to be pivoted 90 into aligned position adjacent the top bar 20 (Fig. 2).

Fig. 5 shows a suction cup 44 mounted at the bottom of a side leg or bar 18 which facilitates the mounting of the practice device on a gymnasium floor or the like. Fig. 6 shows a ground piercing spike 45 which is received within the lower end of a side leg 18 for mounting the practice device on a grassy area.

As seen in Fig. 1 the end wall 22 may be equipped with a target area 46 to score straight drives, slices or hooks. For outdoor use the net could be treated with suitable protective coatings to limit the effect of weather.

The unit is easily erected by merely swinging the two legs on each frame element into proper right angle position and sliding the leg on to the depending lug. The spacing elements are then mounted on the connector means to interconnect the three frame members after which the net is tied in place.

Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and for that reason I wish to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a golf practice device, having a frame and a net, the frame comprising a plurality of inverted U- shaped vertical frame members extending in a horizontal spaced relationship and spacing elements releasably interconnecting the frame members; the net comprising side walls, an end Wall, and a top wall; tie means connecting the net to the frame; each frame member having a top bar and a depending side bar at each end thereof; connector means inter-connecting the ends of the top bar with the side bars; each connector means including a depending rod telescopically positioned within the upper end of its respective side bar, a link pivotally connected to said depending rod having a lug thereon, said upper end of the side bar having a longitudinal slot therein for slidably receiving said lug, the upper end of said slot being engaged by said lug when the lug is moved out of telescopic engagement with said depending rod for Vpiv- 3 otal movement into an aligned position adjacent the top bar.

2. In a golf practice device, having a frame and a net, the frame comprising a plurality of inverted. U- shaped verticalframe members extendingvi'n a horizontal spaced relationship, and spacing elements releasably interconnecting the frame members; the net comprising side Walls,v an endwall, and a top wal1;ttie means connecting the net to the frame; each frame member having a top bar and a depending side bar at each end thereof; connector means inter-connecting the ends of the top bar with the side bar and the spacing elements; each connector means including horizontal rods connected, to their respective top bar and spacing element, said spacing element being releasably connected to itsrespective horizontal rod and said top bar being xedly connected to its respective horizontal rod, each connector means including a depending rod telescopically positioned within the upper end of its respective side bar, a link pivotally connected to said depending rod having a lug thereon,

said upper end of the side bar having a longitudinal slot therein for slidably receiving said lug, the upper end of said slot being engaged by said lug when the lug is moved out of telescopic engagement with said depending rod for pivotal movement into an aligned position adjacent the top bar.

3. In a golf practice device as dened in claim 2 and wherein said spacing elementA has bayonet slots at each horizontal end, and'its respective horizontal rod has a bayonet pin extending transversely thereof in locked engagement with said bayonet slot in the spacing element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,540,670 Vidmer June 2, 1925 1,677,442 Hall July 17, `1928 2;458,105 Sell Ian. 4, 1949 2,874,708 Daus Feb. 24, 1959 

